Grammy-winner resists the label ‘legend’

Three-time Grammy Award-winning bassist John Patitucci is aiming to inspire hope with his new jazz trio album, “Spirit Fall,” featuring drummer Brian Blade and saxophonist Chris Porter. The album, recorded in one day, is partially inspired by Patitucci’s late mentor and longtime bandmate Wayne Shorter. Shorter, a virtuoso saxophonist, passed away on March 2, 2023.

Born in Brooklyn and a resident of Hastings since 1996, Patitucci has played with a diverse list of musicians, ranging from Chick Corea, B.B. King, and Herbie Hancock to Bon Jovi, Sting, and Queen Latifah. As a member of Shorter’s quartet for more than two decades, Patitucci remembers him encouraging the group to stray from the written material during concerts and embrace improvisation. Those experiences helped strengthen Patitucci’s faith and informed the title of “Spirit Fall,” his 17th album as a bandleader.